Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón

Casa del Fundador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón is a two-story colonial house with stone arches supporting the ground floor and wooden beams overhead on the upper level. The facade shows thick walls and small windows typical of Spanish construction from that era, designed for protection from sun and heat.

Construction began in 1540 under Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Suárez Rendón, the founder of Tunja. Over the following centuries the building went through several modifications but maintained its essential colonial structure.

The house reflects how colonial-era elites lived through preserved rooms and furnishings still visible today. Visitors can see how wealthy families during Spanish rule occupied their homes and arranged their daily spaces.

The building sits in Tunja's historic center and is easy to reach on foot, located right on the main plaza. The interior spaces are mostly accessible by level walkways or few steps, making a visit straightforward.

The house retains original mannerist wall paintings depicting exotic animals that survive from the 1500s. These decorations are rarely preserved in other colonial homes and reveal the artistic influences that wealthy Spanish settlers brought to the continent.

Location: Tunja

Inception: 1540

Founders: Gonzalo Suárez Rendón

Official opening: August 7, 1965

Architectural style: colonial architecture

Address: Plaza de Bolívar

GPS coordinates: 5.88333,-73.60000

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03